New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-29
1,Pop sTErGGLES And LEADrRH.

L. II
Workingr1cn have no reason to be dishcalt-
cncd because their organizations aIc dch nlng
in membership and influence. For they surely
must read Alright the lesson Of the past year.
that they cannot rely upon such organizations
or such leaders as they have had TO serve Their
interests wisely and with success. Let II Oc
admitted that wOIhingmcn have clear r-ht
TO associate themselves for the purpose OF pro-
noting by all lawful means their common IN
trrcst But l. is not for Their own g0od TO
SuppOu organizations which Only do them
harm Ii may be frankly admitted that al one
timc the Knights Of Labor prom Scd to he oi
neal service: its theoretical teachings were
iudciouS and helpful. and some Of It's leaders
uscd their great influence faithfully Against
unfair demands, unnecessary strikes ana IN
lawful methods Ii is crcditablc to the good
sense and the law-abiding spirit OF Amer can
woIIlinrmcn chat as tie influence Of such
leaders has declined. and rs the organization
has come to be used by less worthy men and in
different spirit. their support Of it has rapidly
diminished. In substance, the same may be
said Of most other labor organizations which
have been tested during the past year. They
promised at the outset to hep labor by Wise
and proper methods. Nearly al have found
leaders who were not cqul to the responsibility
Of great power, and nearly all have dcd ned
during the wear in the confidence Of the Woik-
crS themselves.
Mere reference to all the strikes and contro-
ycrsics Of the year would fl several columns.
Tuhanpiiy. the facts arc better known to work
crs Than to tie public. They do not forget
the unwiSc struggle with The steamship com
panics into which men were BETRAYED IN Jan
uary by rash leaders, who could not see mat
the welfare and happiness OF great muIu'uir
should not he impcnlic1 in doubtful effort
TO help a small handful Of men. Us the year
began. so il ended hot temper and not wisdom
prompted a boycott Of certain coal shippers IN
PENNSYLVANIA. and the refusal to handle their
cars on the Reading; and then. when the men
refusing were necessarily discharged, temper
and not wisdom prompted the ordering Of a
strike by thousands If employees. bctwcch
these disastrous struggles there were many
others the prolonged strike Of Lchigh miners,
which has caused great suffering and Is not
vet terminated the ConncllSNlir strike. which
had some excuse i'll Che previous un~lNdom oil
the employing conspiracy Of coke operators
The list is long and dismal sometimes uc
men bad good reason for complaint, and some
times they have not but the woIkingmcn thtm-
selves best know that their Organzitio have
not managed for them Oh the whole wisely nor
with general success.
American workers are practical persons.
They DO not long pay out part Of their earnings
TO support organizations which do them no
good but much harm. Professions and de-
clarcd aims do not count; if "A particular organ
izition brings mischief instead of blessing
men cease TO support it. That is the crcdtablc
explanation Of the great decrease in member
ship and revenue Of scmc Of the most I'M
pOrtant labor organizations, and OF the bllUr
controversies which have impaired the III
fucncc Of many. The truth is that the men
find their leadership has not been profitable
10 them. 1t is perhaps the strangcst lllustrl-
ton Of the folly Of many labor leaders that
they have Joined, directly or Indirectly during
the past year, in c-tladc or antl-protcctIvc
demonstrations. A great proportion OF the
workngmcn Of this country know that they
have been and are benefited far more by Inc
protective tariff than by all the organizations
they have supported. Whenever labor leaders
begin to play into the hands Of Free Traders,
they are generally trying to serve their per
sonal ambitions or interests, and not the IN
tcrcsts Of American wOrkngmcn.